[1] Born in San Francisco, California, Lynch received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Santa Clara University in 1953 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1958.
He was a judge on the Municipal Court of San Francisco, California from 1971 to 1974.
He was a judge on the Superior Court of the City and County of San Francisco, California from 1974 to 1982.
[2] Lynch was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on January 25, 1982, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California vacated by Judge Charles Byron Renfrew.
Lynch served in that capacity until his retirement from the federal bench on July 12, 1997.